Voters in one English town will have the unique opportunity to elect what is being touted as the world's first AI lawmaker in the upcoming election next month.

Businessman Steve Endacott is one of the many candidates vying for a seat in parliament on July 4. However, unlike the other candidates, the face on his campaign leaflets is not his own but that of an AI-generated avatar.

"We're launching a party and plan to recruit more AI candidates across the country after this election. We see this as the foundation for something big and democratic," Endacott told Reuters.

Endacott, whose company Neural Voice powers his AI alter ego, decided to run as an independent for the Brighton Pavilion constituency due to his frustration with "standard politics."

Known as "AI Steve" on the ballot, the AI avatar interacts with locals in real-time on various topics such as LGBTQ rights, housing, bin collection, and immigration. It then proposes policy ideas and solicits feedback from constituents.

"We use AI in many aspects of our lives—at work, in social interactions—so why not in politics?" said Eona Johnston, a 23-year-old charity worker, after meeting "AI Steve" near Brighton’s famous pier. "It might change the way we live."

The Electoral Commission clarified that if "AI Steve" wins, Endacott would become the member of parliament, not the AI version of him.

Despite the innovative approach, many locals seemed hesitant to vote for an AI candidate. Photo by mikemacmarketing, Wikimedia commons.